Union representatives said the old sick policy allowed for up to 12 unexcused sick days each year. The new policy allows for just two, the union said.

After eight unexcused absences, a driver can be fired.

"Initially, I don't think they wanted the public to know, OK? I'm going to be the first to say that. They didn't want the public to know, but I want the public to know and I was trying to educate my passengers about the situation," Shawn Curry said.

Metro bus driver James Brown told the Southwest Ohio Transit Authority board on Tuesday that this new policy will hurt the public and cause a high turnover rate among drivers.

Metro has said that the previous sick time policy led to high absentee rates, which affected service.

"This is more of an absence issue than an illness issue, that there are many times when we need our drivers here and they simply aren't showing up for that, and our customers expect them there," Metro's Sallie Hilvers said.

Hilvers said the union's representation of the change isn't entirely accurate.

"The new policy provides up to eight instances of absence. Now instances is not a day, it could be weeks that could be counted as one or two instances," she said. "The old policy was extremely liberal. The new policy does provide the necessary protection for people who are truly sick."

Drivers said the very nature of their job contributes to absenteeism.

"Being on the bus 10 to 12 hours at a time, those things start to break your body down," Jalad Washington said.

The board said all concerns are being taken into consideration, and that the union and Metro officials will meet again soon to discuss the policy.